Overview
- 1 in 2 infants under 3 months of age can experience reflux and baby regurgitation daily1, in the UK this equates to about 200,000 infants each year2
- Although infant reflux is considered a mild digestive discomfort which will resolve itself in the first year of life3 the NHS continues to experience a high number of parents seeking help from their healthcare professional4,5
- The cost of infant reflux to the NHS is significant but certain changes in practice may help reduce this cost6,7
What parents of infants with reflux are experiencing
A mum and baby focus group asked how their baby’s feeding issues made them feel*
Question: Which words best describe your feelings as the parent of an infant with reflux?

*Survey carried out by MiMs Learning in preparation of the SMA® Nutrition module about managing infant reflux and parental anxiety 2021
Infant reflux can be extremely distressing for both parents and infants and influences family quality of life.6
The financial impact of infant reflux on the NHS
Medication is not often required for the treatment of infant reflux and unnecessary prescribing of medications like alginates, represents a significant cost to the NHS.
Between 2021-2022, over £6,000,000 was spent on alginates alone7.
UK prescription of Gaviscon Infant from
February 2021 – February 20227:
(~28,947,049 units)
£6,792,857
Implementing the NICE approach to managing infant reflux
For breast-fed infants NICE recommends they are referred for a breastfeeding assessment with a trained individual. If there is no improvement, then an alginate could be trialled for 2 weeks8.
For formula-fed infants, a stepped-care approach is recommended. If after practical feeding advice is given, there is no improvement, then a nutrition before medication approach is recommended8. This approach recommends trialling a thickened formula such as SMA® Anti-Reflux Formula.
Trialling SMA® Anti-Reflux Formula
SMA® Anti- Reflux is a starch thickened formula, the thickened nature of the formula works by reducing infant reflux and subsequent regurgitation, it is suitable from birth until 1 year of age.
Benefits of Starch Thickeners
- Reducing frequency of regurgitation: Starch-thickened formulas have been shown to significantly reduce the number of daily regurgitation episodes*9
- Supporting absorption of nutrients: Digestible starch thickeners do not interfere with the availability of calcium, iron and zinc compared to indigestible thickeners, such as Carob bean gum10,11

SMA® Anti-Reflux is the only anti-reflux formula in the UK&I with a unique combination of easily digestible starch and 100% whey, partially hydrolysed protein, to help manage reflux and regurgitation9,12-13
Available on prescription and over the counter.
NICE, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
*p<0.0001, compared to a standard formula
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